The Abomey-Calavi town hall has raised alarm over a troubling situation involving numerous unclaimed or unidentified bodies held in funeral homes and hospitals across the department.
In a press release issued on August 6, 2025, municipal authorities highlighted the ongoing presence of these remains, notably at the Hubert Koutoukou Maga National University Hospital Center (CNHU-HKM) in Cotonou, the Abomey-Calavi/So-Ava Zone Hospital, and the Les Anges funeral home.
Mayor Angelo Évariste Ahouandjinou has urged families of the deceased to come forward by August 11, 2025, to initiate necessary identification and handover procedures.
To aid this effort, the town hall has posted a list of the unclaimed bodies on board No. 5 in its main hall.
The mayor stressed the urgency and regulatory nature of this process, calling on relatives to immediately contact the local police station or the prosecutor’s office at the Abomey-Calavi Court of First Instance.
“The goal is to enable the formal identification of the bodies and, if necessary, initiate the handover procedure,” he said.
The town hall has warned that failure to respond within the given timeframe will result in the authorities proceeding with the burial of the bodies without family participation.
This firm stance reflects the administration’s commitment to resolving a complex and sensitive issue while maintaining dignity for the deceased.
The municipal administration appealed to all concerned parties to act responsibly, underscoring the importance of closing this chapter with respect and humanity.
As the deadline approaches, the community awaits responses from families and hopes for a resolution that honours the memory of those who remain unidentified.
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